After entrusting the two duel Kings who had won, Holactie the Creator of Light's figure gradually dissolved into a virtual shadow, disappearing bit by bit.
The sky filled with light also receded like the tide. Both light and darkness vanished, leaving a blue, clear sky, the scarred Egyptian earth valiantly holding on till the end.
The Palace was full of holes, looking as if it had undergone an eighth-level earthquake. The splendid golden palace had collapsed, half of the treasure vault storing countless precious items had sunk into the ground, teetering on the brink of collapse.
Exiting the realm of light, Atem and Youyu landed back on the ground side by side.
Turning his head to gaze at the already heavily damaged palace, watching the gradually spreading black smoke, as Pharaoh, Atem couldn't help but feel a twinge of sorrow.
This was all an illusion, a game—its realism astonishingly vivid, yet ultimately just the Darkness Game.
But at the same time, he understood that everything he had experienced was history. A heart-stirring epic had once unfolded on Egypt's earth.
He thought back to three thousand years ago when this nation had undergone a similar trial, but the outcome wasn't as fulfilling as it was now.
Holactie was right.
His victory was owed to the new bonds formed in the present world, the strongest weapon against Sok.
"Yugi!"
His friends enthusiastically surged forward, eager to embrace him just like when they won a game, but stopped in their tracks a meter or two away.
Because even with those familiar faces, those voices they knew, the person before them was an ancient king, someone supposed to have been buried three thousand years ago, separated from them as if by a world.
"Right, you're not Yugi anymore," Jonouchi rubbed his nose, "Now you have your own name, right?"
"Yes," Atem nodded, "Atem, that's my name."
"Atem..." Yugi gently repeated, smiling, "What a great name. But from now on, I can't call you 'the other me' anymore. You are you, not anyone else."
Yugi instinctively touched the place on his chest where the Millennium Pendant used to hang, now empty, feeling a bit hollow like a room in his heart had been vacated.
But this didn't matter.
He was sincerely happy that Atem had found his identity and true name, though he might feel a bit lonely.
"No, you can call me like you used to," Atem shook his head, smiled, and seriously said, "Thank you, AIBO. Without your help in retrieving my name, I couldn't have won this battle."
Yugi shook his head, "No, Youyu deserves more of the credit. I didn't do much; since entering Memory World, it's been Youyu's tactics, commands, and personal duel skills that ensured success.
Also, the search for your name; it was Youyu who found the tomb's location and passed the duel's trial to obtain the key card etched with your name.
Without him, we might not have helped much..."
Atem thought, actually, that seemed true, owing more to Youyu.
So he solemnly turned to Youyu, "Thank you very much, Youyu. I don't know what to say..."
"No need," Youyu shrugged generously, "Don't be polite. We've fought side by side so many times, aren't we partners?"
If you must thank, honestly, I'd like that 'Dark Magic Circle' your master created for you...
...But such innermost thoughts can't be spoken.
That would ruin the atmosphere and be awkward.
Then Atem turned to Yugi again, "But I still need to thank you, AIBO. Not just for this time's support, but for countless battles till now.
Without you, I couldn't have reached today..."
Still, AIBO's the most important.JPG.
Of course, he didn't forget the other three accompanying him.
"And everyone else too." The King solemnly bowed to everyone, "Thank you all. I certainly couldn't have persisted to now by myself."
Youyu: "..."
Alright, at least I'm ahead of "everyone else" on the list.
If considering the King's favor as game progress, this should count as significant advancement, right?
...
As the dust settled, this journey in the Memory World reached its final chapter.
Atem retrieved all of his lost memories, marking the end of this hyper-realistic ancient Egyptian RPG. But no party lasts forever, and the finest game also has a completion time.
Completing this game meant the journey's end.
He had to say goodbye to this world and everything within it.
Though aware it was all illusion, Atem still didn't want to end it hastily, desiring a perfect conclusion to this story.
First, he needed to find the best successor for the Pharaoh's position after his departure.
So he sought Priest Set, President Haima's former life.
While Pharaoh fiercely battled the Great Evil God outside under the dark sky, the President was...sleeping with the White Dragon lady.
No, actually, he was sleeping, while she kept vigil.
No choice, his father Aknadin had just finished his misdeeds, and Great Evil God Sok appeared. Priest Set was thoroughly exhausted, unconscious and bedridden, unable to engage in battle.
When Set woke up, opened the door, he was dumbfounded.
What? Where's my great Egyptian Palace?
The massive palace had vanished after a night of sleep?
What bewildered him more awaited. As Priest Set woke, the slender pale hand of White Dragon girl Kisara was holding his arm like a pretty accessory. He was still dazed when Pharaoh directly approached him.
"Here." Without hesitation, Atem handed his Millennium Pendant to Set.
Set was shocked, retreating two steps quickly, almost causing Kisara hanging from his arm to fall.
"Pha...Pharaoh, what does this mean?"
Suddenly being passed the throne, anyone would panic.
Atem briefly explained, essentially telling him there's no time to explain, but it was decided by the organization for him to succeed as Pharaoh, to be entrusted from now on...
Basically, the game ended, and Atem's memories concluded, necessitating his departure.
Despite lots of refusal, kneeling, and expressing loyalty, Set eventually noticed Atem becoming transparent, dissipating, finally accepting the Pharaoh wasn't joking.
Thus, he reluctantly received the Millennium Pendant, succeeding Atem as Pharaoh.
Until Atem completely faded to a spirit form disappearing before his eyes, Priest Set remained bewildered, holding the Millennium Pendant.
By now, Set hadn't even figured out what happened. He simply slept, awoke to find the palace gone, the capital war-torn, and inadvertently became Pharaoh...
...Oh, right, having a sweet silver-haired girl around too.
Such a strange situation.
Feeling inexplicably like a life winner, Set didn't even know whether to be happy or not.
Judging from the results, Aknadin sure fell into darkness foolishly, dying unjustly.
Aknadin's greatest wish was merely for his son Set to ascend the throne, yet without doing anything, in the end, Atem naturally abdicated and handed over the Pharaoh's position to Set—it even came legitimately.
Thus, Aknadin sold his soul, transformed into a dark Grand Priest, and toiled, only achieving loneliness and eliminating himself...